Asarum caudatum, wild ginger [British Columbia wildginger], is a native perennial forb that is evergreen throughout most of its range. It grows as an understory plant in moist, montane forests (0-1200 meters / 2200 feet) of the Pacific Northwest, and is found in British Columbia, Washington, Oregon, California, Idaho, and western Montana, where it grows in zones with mild, wet winters (lows 15-25 degrees F) and warm, dry summers.

Huh. Who knew there's a different species? Well, i mean, i knew that there's a European wild ginger( The European ginger has very glossy leaves) but i didnt know there's a western species.

The one I've got has all green dull leaves and the flower petals reflex back. Asarum canadense reflexum. Canadense would indicate Canada, so that's gotta mean there's another species native up in Canada.

Range of Asarum canadense, so there's an Eastern species and a western species. How interesting.

Wild ginger has some interesting ethnobotanical uses as well. Native Americans and early Euro-American settlers have used wild ginger as a spice. The root is harvested dried and then ground into a powder. Early settlers also cooked pieces of the root in sugar water for several days to obtain a ginger-flavored, candied root. The left over liquid was then boiled down to syrup that was used on pancakes and other food items. However, you should be aware that scientists have determined that the plants may contain poisonous compounds and consumption of the plant is highly discouraged.